DURHAM, N.H. - The 19th-ranked Boston University women's lacrosse team built an 8-5 lead midway through the second half and held off a late surge by the University of New Hampshire to defeat the Wildcats 8-7 at Memorial Field on Monday afternoon.

With the score tied 5-5 in the second half, Kristin Abruzzese potted her third goal of the game at 19:11 and Chrissy Lombard recorded her third tally at 18:22 to give the Terriers (9-6 overall, 4-1 America East) a 7-5 lead. Caroline Kelleher's unassisted goal gave the visitors the largest lead of the game, 8-5, with 15:31 to play.

Jessie Groszkowski (Reistertown, Md.) trimmed the deficit to 8-6 at 10:51 with the assistance of Megan Mangano (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.). Molly Cherington (Meriden, N.H.) scored with 2:25 remaining to pull New Hampshire (10-5, 3-2) within 8-7 and force BU to call time out. The Terriers won the ensuing draw control and maintained possession the rest of the way to secure the win.

New Hampshire jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals 47 seconds apart by Sue Yund (Castleton, N.Y.; two goals) and Colleen Christopher (Newington, N.H.; three goals) at 24:54 and 24:07, respectively.

BU rallied to tie the game on goals by Abruzzese and Lombard before Christopher put UNH back on top, 3-2, at 14:18. The Terriers took the lead on strikes by Kyle Rutkowski at 4:01 and Abruzzese at 3:03. Yund scored on a feed from Meagan Clavin (Hanover, N.H.) with one second remaining in the half to tie the game, 4-4.

Lombard netted a free position goal to open the second half scoring at 26:52. Christopher's third tally of the game - all on free positions - tied the game, 5-5, 7:44 into the second half.

New Hampshire concludes its three-game homestand April 25 against Harvard. Game time at Memorial Field is 4 p.m.